Yarn twisting apparatus

ABSTRACT

AN APPARATUS IS PROVIDED, FOR MACHINE TWISTING A PLURALITY OF WRAP YARNS SIMULTANEOUSLY, THE APPARATUS BEING ADAPTED TO BE MOVED DIRECTLY ONTO THE FRAME OF A KNITTING, WEAVING MACHINE OF THE LIKE, FOR PROVIDING AN INITIAL TWISTING OF YARNS, PRIOR TO FEEDING THE YARNS INTO A KNITTING PORTION OF A KNITTING MACHINE. AFTER THE INITIAL TWIST IS PLACED IN THE YARNS BY FALSE TWISTING PAIRS OF YARNS TOGETHER, THE YARNS ARE MOVE LONGTIDUNALLY THROUGH ANOTHER PORTION OF THE APPARATUS, IN WHICH YARNS IN THE TWIST ZONE ARE HEATED TO SAID FILAMENTS IN THEIR TWISTED CONDITION, THE TWISTED YARNS THEN BEING COOLED BY A SUITABLE MEANS, AND THEN SEPARATED BY PASSING THE YARNS IN A TWISTED PAIR OVER OPPOSITE SIDES OF A SEPARATING PIN, TO YIELD A TEXTURIZED FABRIC.

Nov. 16, 1971 w. K. WYATT 3,620,000

YARN TWISTING APPARATUS Original Filed Nov. 17, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. WILLIAM KIRK WYATT Nov. 16., 1971 w. K. WYATT 3,620,000

YARN TWISTING APPARATUS Original Filed Nov. 17, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 II H I H I I W 1: FZi 1| nmmum. 53 I 1 I kwl F, 4 5 INVENTOR. A WILLIAM KIRK WYATT Nov. 16., 1971 w. K. WYATT YARN TWISTING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4:

Original Filed Nov. 17, 1967 INVENTOR. WILLIAM KIRK WYATT NOV. 16, 1971 w, K, WYATT 3,620,000

YARN TWISTING APPARATUS Original Filed Nov. 1'7, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. WILLIAM KIRK WYATT United States Patent O US. Cl. s7 34 HS 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus is provided, for machine twisting a plurality of warp yarns simultaneously, the apparatus being adapted to be mounted directly onto the frame of a knitting, weaving machine or the like, for providing an initial twisting of yarns, prior to feeding the yarns into a knitting portion of a knitting machine. After the initial twist is placed in the yarns, by false twisting pairs of yarns together, the yarns are moved longitudinally through another portion of the apparatus, in which yarns in the twist zone are heated to set the filaments in their twisted condition, the twisted yarns then being cooled by a suitable means, and then being separated by passing the yarns in a twisted pair over opposite sides of a separating pin, to yield a texturized fabric.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 683,908, filed Nov. 17, 1967, now Pat. No. 3,488,936, granted Ian. 13, 1970.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Prior art devices have utilized the principle of twisting together pairs of warp yarns, as in a false twisting operation, and then separating the yarns to yield texturized, or bulked yarns. Such prior art devices, for example that disclosed in the US. Pat. No. 3,091,908 to Carruthers, have proven excellent in their ability to provide quality yarns, particularly those of finer denier.

In general, it has heretofore been thought necessary to always accomplish the pre-twisting and separation operation as well as all other yarn handling operations, at as high a speed as possible, for effecting economy of the time required for yarn handling operations.

Such operations generally required drawing yarns from pirns, twisting the yarns together, either manually or by using a pretwister device such as that disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,237,391 to Carruthers, heat-setting and separating the twisted yarns, winding the yarns on bobbins or the like, placing the bobbins in a creel, and unwinding the bobbins with the texturized yarns being wound in parallel relation onto a beam, such as one of the tricot type. The yarns were then fed to knitting machines at the comparatively slow speeds required by knitting machines.

The prior art has lacked any teaching of using mechanical means for placing false twist in pluralities of pairs of yarns simultaneously, by other than a hand operation, and furthermore clearly lacks any teaching of false twisting pluralities of groups, or pairs of yarns for direct feed of the yarns to a knitting machine or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention seeks to fulfill a need not ful filled by the prior art, in providing an apparatus by which parallel-disposed yarns may be twisted together simultaneously, in pairs, such that all or a substantial number of pairs of yarns across a knitting machine or the like may be twisted in a single operation, thereby eliminating the necessity for twisting yarns by hand, and furthermore insuring that substantially the same degree of twist is present in each pair of yarns, across the machine.

Additionally, the present invention provides an apparatus embodying the above-mentioned features, which may be operated at sufficiently low yarn feed speeds that it can be mounted directly onto a knitting, weaving machine or the like, and which is capable of handling either fine or heavy denier yarns.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide an apparatus for twisting yarns simultaneously into a plurality of generally parallel-disposed twisted groups, each group comprising two or more yarns, as desired.

It is another object of this invention to accomplish the above object, wherein means are provided, carried by the apparatus, for engaging a plurality of groups of yarns, each group comprising a pair of yarns, and applying false twist to the groups of yarns.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an apparatus for applying false twists to a plurality of grouped pairs of yarns by engaging the yarns between oppositely moving belt runs.

It is a further object'of this invention to accomplish the above object, wherein the yarns are separated into groups simultaneously by transversely movable members which carry grouping pins or the like.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a means for simultaneously applying false twists to pluralities of generally parallel-disposed pairs of yarns, wherein spacing means are provided for maintaining the yarns in each pair in spaced relation for a portion of the twist zone, to facilitate insertion of a separating member between the spaced yarns in each pair, whereby the twist may be removed from each pair of yarns, by moving the yarns past separating members resulting in a plurality of texturized yarns.

It is a further object of this invention to accomplish all of the above objects, wherein the apparatus for applying the false twist to pairs or groups of yarns is mounted directly on a knitting machine, or the like.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an apparatus for applying false twists to pairs of yarns and heat-setting the yarns in twisted condition, with the apparatus also including pin means for separating the yarns from their twisted condition, the pin means being vibratory due to the transfer thereto of energy from yarns moving therepast, wherein the vibratory motion of the pin means facilitates the removal of snaps and the like from the yarns moving therepast.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel method of applying a false twist to pairs of yarns, separating the yarns, and feeding the separated yarns directly to a knitting machine or the like.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, drawings, and appended claims.

3 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a knitting machine which embodies the yarn twisting apparatus of this invention means for heat-setting the twisted yarn filaments, and separating pins for separating yarn pairs conveyed longitudinally therepast.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the yarn twisting belts of this invention, wherein grouping means are also illustrated for grouping the yarns into pairs, prior to applying a false twist to each pair of yarns.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the yarn twisting means illustrated in FIG. 2, taken generally along the line III-III of FIG. 2, wherein means are illustrated for facilitating relative vertical movement of the upper and lower belt runs which engage and apply false twists to grouped pairs of yarns disposed therebetween.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of that portion of the apparatus of this invention which facilitates the grouping of yarns into pairs.

FIG. 5 is a view generally similar to that of FIG. 4, but wherein the grouping means are illustrated in their respective positions, after relative movement, such that the yarns are illustrated as having been disposed in grouped pairs, after slight transverse movement of the yarns by means of pins carried by the grouping members.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary top perspective view of a portion of the machine of FIG. 1, wherein there is illustrated a lower twisting belt, yarn-grouping pin means disposed on opposite sides of the belt, a yarnsetting heater means, a taping block, and twist separating pins disposed in a retracted position between the lower twisting belt and the taping block means.

FIG. 7 is a view generally similar to that of FIG. 6, after yarns have been grouped into pairs, and wherein the means facilitating the taping operation and tape cutting is clearly illustrated.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary top perspective view of a portion of the machine illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein the operation of the device of this invention is illustrated in a sequence subsequent to that illustrated in FIG. 7, and wherein the twisting belts are illustrated in operative relation, for applying a false twist to pairs of yarns disposed therebetween, the taping block not being illustrated, in that it is in a retracted position during the operational stage illustrated in FIG. 8.

FIG. 9 is a view generally similar to that of FIG. 8, but wherein the twisting belts and grouping pins are not illustrated, for the sake of clarity, such apparatus having been retracted following the operational stage illustrated in FIG. 8, and wherein the twist separating pins are illustrated in upper, or operative positions.

FIG. 10 is a highly enlarged view taken generally along the line XX of FIG. 8, looking downstream of the apparatus of this invention, during the twisting operation illustrated in FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a twist separating pin of this invention, mounted for angular disposition relative to a vertical plane, the view being taken from one side of the pin, illustrating the manner in which the pin facilitates the separation of a twisted yarn pair.

FIG. 12 is a view generally similar to that of FIG. 11 but wherein the separating pin is mounted in vertical disposition, the pin being disposed for vibration in the direction of yarn travel, as illustrated by the phantom position of the pin in FIG. 12.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary top perspective view of a portion of an apparatus generally similar to that of FIG. 1, but wherein the twist separating pins are mounted in downward disposition, adjacent to the twistsetting heating means of this invention, in which position of the separating pins the pairs of spaced yarns must be moved rearwardly for engaging the pins, following their twisting operation.

4 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings in detail, reference is first made to FIG. 1, wherein there is illustrated a knitting machine generally designated by the numeral 15.

The machine 15 comprises a frame 16 having a front wall 17 and side walls 19 and 20. The frame side walls 13 and 20 include respective side wall mounting extensions 21 and 22.

A sley bar 23 is carried by the mounting extensions 21 and 22 of the frame side walls 18 and 20, at the leftmost ends thereof, as viewed in FIG. 1. The sley bar 23 includes a plurality of upstanding separator pins 24, for spacing and separating yarns passing therebetween.

A pair of upstream nip rolls 25 and 26 are rotatably carried by the frame extensions 21 and 22, peripherally adjacent to each other to provide a nip therebetween for receiving and carrying yarns therebetween, longitudinally of the machine 15. The roll 26 includes a shaft eX- tension 27, which extends through the frame extension 21 and has a sprocket 28 keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft 27; the shaft 27 being driven by a suitable motor 30.

A heater 31 is provided, disposed transversely of the machine 15 and carried between the frame extensions 21 and 22, the heater 31 being disposed just below the paths of yarns extending through the nip of the rolls 25 and 26, as viewed in FIG. 6, and later to be described.

A belt mounting bar 32 is disposed transversely of the machine, between the frame extensions 21 and 22, fixedly secured at opposite ends to the frame extensions 21 and 22. A pair of shafts 33 and 34 are carried by the bar 32, to one side thereof, as viewed in FIG. 2, the shaft 33 carrying an idler pulley 35, and the shaft 34 carrying a drive pulley 36. The pulley 36 is driven through the shaft 34, by means of a motor 37. The motor 37 is carried by a bracket 38 which is mounted to the bar 32 by suitable bolts 40 which fasten together the bracket 38, the bar 30, and a bracket 41 disposed on the opposite side of the bar 32. A belt 42 is disposed between the pulleys 35 and 36, being driven by the pulley 36.

An upper bar 43 is disposed between the frame extensions 21 and 22, directly above the bar 32, the bar 43 being mounted for pivotal movement on a bolt 44 disposed between and carried in slots of the brackets 38 and 41. The right-most end of the bar 43 is provided with a universal joint 45, in which is carried one end of a threaded member 46. The threaded member 46 is threaded into a pivotal member 47 which is pivotally carried by the rightmost end of the bar 32, as viewed in FIG. 3. The lower end of the threaded member 46 may be provided with a suitable crank turning device or the like, to facilitate the rotation of the threaded member 46 and the consequent raising or lowering of the bar 43, relative to the bar 32.

The bar 43 is provided with shafts 48 and 50, extending therethrough, and carrying respective idler and drive pulleys 51 and S2.

The shaft 50 is provided with a sprocket 53 which is driven through a reversing sprocket 54 by a drive sprocket 55 carried by the shaft 34. The pulleys 51 and 52 carry a belt 56 therebetween. It will be apparent from the assembly of the device as illustrated in FIG. 3, that the belts 42 and 56 are driven in a same direction such that the lower run of upper belt 56 is oppositely movable relative to the upper run of the lower belt 42. Also, it will be noted that the permissible raising and lowering of the upper bar 43 upon rotation of the threaded member 46 will permit the movement of the bars 32 and 43 relative to one another, such that the lower run of the upper belt 56 is movable into closely adjacent, or touching (if desired) relation to the upper run of the lower belt 42.

Yarn grouping means, generally designated by the numeral 57 are provided, comprising plate members 58 and 60 disposed on an upstream side of the lower belt 42, as viewed in FIG. 6, and a pair of plate members 61 and 62 disposed on a downstream side of the lower belt 42. The

plate members 58, 60, 61 and 62 carry upstanding grouping pins 63, spaced transversely across the machine 15, equidistant from one another along each plate member, the pins 63 being disposed in aligned relationship, as viewed in FIG. 6, in one position of the grouping means 57. An actuation member 64 is provided, secured to the plate member 58, which, when manually or otherwise actuated, is operative to move the plate members 58 and 61 transversely of the machine 15, as viewed in FIG. 7, in such a manner that upstanding pins 63 carried by the plate members 58 and 61 will engage yarns for movement of the yarns slightly transversely of the machine 15, to form pairs, in a manner later to be described.

A bar 65, is provided, extending transversely of the machine 15, between the frame extension portions 21 and 22 thereof..The bar 65 is carried in slots 68 and 70, for selective vertical movement between operational and retracted positions, upon actuation of a crank handle 72 on one or both sides of the machine 15, which drives threaded members 74, which are threaded through the frame extension portions 21 and 22, at both sides of the machine 15, and into engagement with the 'bar 65. A plurality of twistseparating pins 75 are carried by the bar 65 for vertical movement therewith.

A tape block 76 is provided, mounted between the frame extension portions 21 and 22, transversely of the machine 15, for vertical movement within a pair of slots 77 and 7-8 in the frame extension portions 21 and 22, generally similar to the movement of the needle bar 65. A suitable crank 80 and threaded member 81 are provided, suitably connected at one or both ends of the bar 76, through the frame extension portions 21 and 22. The tape block 76 is thus movable between operational and retracted positions in a vertical direction. A plurality of cutting elements 82 are disposed above the cutting block 76, for vertical movement theretoward. The cutting elements 82 are of the blade type, and facilitate the cutting of tape, for a purpose later to be described.

A pair of downstream rolls 83 and 84 are provided, rotatably carried between the frame sides 18 and 20, defining therebetween a nip for engagement of and driving yarn ends therethrough. The lower roll 84 includes a shaft extension 85, on which is mounted a sprocket 86, The sprockets 86 and 28 carry a drive chain 87, whereby the lower rolls 84 and 26 of the upstream and downstream roll pairs are rotatably driven in the same direction by the motor 30.

The remaining structure of the knitting machine 15 from the roll 89 on through the machine may be conventional, or suited to specific purposes, as desired.

A beam or spool 88 may be mounted on a shaft 90, upstream of the machine 15, for supplying yarn to the machine 15. In the alternative, yarn may be supplied to the machine from a plurality of spindles (not shown) disposed in a creel, if desired.

OPERATION A plurality of yarns Y are provided from a beam 88, and are threaded through the nip between the rolls 25 and 26, over the heater 31, as viewed in FIG. 6, over the plate members 58 and 60, between the upper and lower belts 56 and 42, respectively, over the plate members 61 and 62, above the separator pin bar 65, over the tape block 76, and through the nip formed between the rolls 83 and 84, the movement of the yarn ends Y then being arrested.

The actuation portion 64 of the plate member 58 is then moved transversely of the machine, in a horizontal direction, whereby the plate members 58 and 61 are moved transversely of the machine, the grouping pins 63 carried by the plate members 58 and 61 engaging the yarns Y and Y and moving them toward the yarns Y and Y as viewed in FIG. 7. It will be understood that alternate yarns disposed between in nips of rolls 25, 26 and 83, 84 across the machine 15 will be moved in a manner of the yarns Y and Y The yarns Y and Y as well as the yarns Y and Y, are thus grouped in pairs transversely of the machine 15.

Prior to the grouping of the yarns Y Y Y 3 and Y; a place of tape T or other adhesive element is placed adhesive side-up on the tape block 76. Subsequent to the grouping of the yarns in the aiore-mentioned manner, another piece of tape T is applied across the yarns Y Y Y Y into overlying relation to the piece of tape T The cutting blades 82 are then moved vertically downwardly, to cut through the tapes T and T and to separate the tapes into spacer members S and S The upstanding pins 79, carried by the tape block 76 maintain the adjacent yarn portions Y Y Y and Y, in their originally spaced relation, transversely of the machine prior to the application of the tape member T The cutting blades 82 are then withdrawn upwardly and the tape block 76 is moved into a retracted position by engaging the crank handle 80 and rotating the threaded member 81 to lower the tape block 76 within the slots 77 and 78. The upper belt 56 is then lowered to the position illustrated in FIG. 8, by actuation of the threaded member 46.

The belts 56 and 42 are thus brought together, such that adjacent runs are in overlying relation with the yarns Y through Y confined therebetween. Upon energizing the motor 37, and rotation of the belts 56 and 42, the lower run of the upper belt 56 moves in a direction opposite to the movement of the upper run of the lower belt 42, thereby providing a twist in each of the groups G and S of yarns. The twist applied to the groups G and S is of the false twist type, known in the art as a SZ twist. During the application of this twist to the yarn groups G and G the respective spacer members S and S are freely rotatable, having been separated by the cutting blades 82. The twist zone will be present from the nip of the rolls 25 and 26 to the nip of the rolls 83 and 84.

With reference to FIG. 10, it will be readily apparent that the false twist applied to the yarns Y and Y is effected by frictional engagement of the yarn surfaces with the surfaces of the oppositely moving belt runs 42 and 56.

When the desired number of twist turns has been placed in the yarns, the meter 37 is de-actuated, the plate members 58 and 61 are returned to their normal positions illustrated in FIG. 6, and the threaded member 46 is rotated, raising the bar 43 and consequently raising the upper belt 56 out of engagement with the yarn groups G and G2.

The crank handle 72 is then actuated, raising the separator bar 65 in its guide slots 68 and 70 such that the separator pins are raised to pass through the voids V and V between the respective yarns Y Y and Y Y which are spaced by the respective separator members S and S The heater 31 is then operative to heat-set the yarn filaments in their twisted condition. The motor 30 is then actuated to drive the rolls 26 and 84, to carry the twisted yarn groups G and G in a downstream direction, such that the yarns Y and Y are separated from their group G as they pass over one of the separator pins 75, and the yarns Y and Y; are separated from their group G as they pass on opposite sides of their separator pin 75. All yarn groups across the machine 15 are separated in the same manner, and the tape separator members S and S may then be removed, or allowed to pass between the rolls 83 and 84, then to be discarded.

During the continuous heat-setting of the twisted yarn groups G and G the zone of twist remains constant, and as a given amount of twist is removed at the downstream end of the twist zone by yarns passing on opposite sides of the yarn separator pins 75, that same amount of twist automatically becomes present at the upstream side of the twist zone, for each group G or G of yarns, as yarns pass through the nip between the upstream rolls 25 and 26. This is due to the heat-setting of the twist as yarns are drawn across the heater 31, and the transfer upstream of any rotation to a twisted group G or G by a downstream untwisting of the groups G or G such untwisting being effected by passing them over separator pins 75.

With reference to FIG. 12, it will be observed that the separator pin 75 is of a selected size, dimension, and material, such that the friction of the yarns Y and Y passing thereby, on opposite sides of the pin 75 is sufiicient to transfer energy to the pin 75, to facilitate a vibration of the pin 75, between the full line position illustrated in FIG. 12, and the phantom line position illustrated therein. All such pins 75 across the machine are thus vibrated. This vibration of the pins 75 is effective for eliminating snags between the yarns Y and Y which would tend to retard the separation of the yarns about the pins 75, or which may tend to cause breaking of the yarns Y and Y The resilience of each pin 75, is therefore suflicient to allow a moderate bending of each pin 75 to ease the elimination of snags and the like.

With reference to FIG. 11, it will also be observed that the pins 75 may be mounted in an angular manner, at a slight acute angle with a vertical plane, such that the yarns Y and Y may ride upwardly of the pins 75, when a snag engages a pin 75, another feature which eases the elimination of snags and prevents yarn breakage.

It will be observed that in the device illustrated, adjacent pairs of yarns have been twisted in the same direction. However, it may be advisable to twist alternate pairs of yarns in opposite directions, in order to balance forces in the yarns across the knitting machine. Such may be accomplished by first rotating the belts 56 and 42 in one direction across alternate pairs of yarns and then rotating the belts 56 and 42 in another direction across intermediate pairs of yarns. Other apparatus may also be provided, such as another pair of belts 42 and 56 which move in directions opposite to those illustrated in FIG. 8, and are disposed either above or below those illustrated in FIG. 8, for applying twist in an opposite direction to alternate pairs of yarns.

The yarns which pass through the rolls 83 and 84 in a downstream direction are texturized, and have high bulk, which enables the accomplishment of the aforementioned objectives.

With reference to FIG. 13, it will be observed that an alternative embodiment of the apparatus of this invention is present, comprising a knitting machine 90 having frame extensions 91 and 92, between which are carried upstream rolls 93 and 94 and downstream rolls 95 and 96. A heater 97 is also provided between the frame extensions 91 and 92, as are upper and lower belts 98 and 100, yarn grouping means 101, and a tape block 102 and its pin-carrying guide bars 103 and 104, all similar to the apparatus of FIG. 1 of this invention.

In the apparatus of FIG. 13, however, yarn twist separator pins 105 are carried extending vertically downwardly from a carrier bar 106 disposed just downstream of the heater 97, but upstream of the twist belts 98 and 100 for those instances when it is desirable to separate twisted yarn groups shortly after the yarn filaments are set by the heat from the heater 97.

In the embodiment of FIG. 13, it therefore becomes necessary after applying the false twist to the yarns, and prior to separating the yarns over the pins 105, to manually grasp the separator members S and S and move the yarns back upstream to engage the voids V and V of the groups of yarns G and G respectively, over separator pins 105. From that point on, the operation would be continuous, as with the apparatus of FIG. 1, differing therefrom in a shorter twist zone only.

It will be apparent that various modifications may be made in the various structural details of this invention such as using a cooling zone of the forced air type, or the like just downstream of the heater, should the cooling olheat-set yarns be desirable in specific applications of this 8 invention, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

In the description above, specific terms have been used for the sake of clarity, but it is to be understood that this description is directed to the specific forms of the invention selected for illustration in the drawings, and is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for feeding texturized yarn to a knitting machine comprising means providing paths for conveying a plurality of yarns, means for initially engaging and shifting yarns for separating the yarns into groups, common means for initially simultaneously applying false twists to groups of yarns thus separated, means for initially and continuously heat-setting the twisted yarn filaments during the conveying of yarns along their paths, and means for continuously facilitating the separation of twisted and set yarns from their groups while untwisting the set yarns and while causing twist to be continuously imparted to unset yarns in groups during the conveying of yarns along their paths.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim I, wherein said facilitating means includes means for initially facilitating the spacing of individual yarns within each twisted group and separating members initially insertable into spacings between individual yarns in each group for continuous use therein.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said facilitating means includes means located along paths of yarn conveyance and being positionable for initially applying spacer members across spaced yarns prior to applying false twist to groups of yarns.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said applying means includes means for carrying lower spacer members and for underlying spaced yarns with lower spacer members, for lower spacer member engagement with upper spacer members to form connectable pairs of spacer members.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said facilitating means includes separator pins initially insertable between yarns at an end of each pair of spacer members for continuous use therein.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said facilitating means comprise separator pins continuously disposed in paths of yarn travel for separation of groups of yarns thereover during the conveying of yarns along their paths.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said pins are of selected size and dimension to provide means for permitting resilient oscillation of said pins in the direction of yarn travel.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said pins are mounted in generally vertical disposition, for intersecting yarn groups normal to the direction of yarn travel.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said pins are mounted in generally vertical planes with the paths of travel of associated yarn groups, the pins being angularly disposed in their planes for intersecting the paths of yarn travel at acute angles, and providing means for facilitating slight vertical travel of yarn groups along associated pins.

10. A yarn handling apparatus comprising a frame having opposite frame sides, yarn handling feed rolls carried by said frame sides, means for initially engaging and shifting yarns for separating that yarns into groups, common means carried by said frame for providing an initial common and simultaneous twisting of grouped yarns, means for initially and continuously heat-setting grouped and twisted yarn filaments, and means carried by said frame for facilitating the continuous separation of yarns within each group.

II. The apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein said initial twist providing means comprises means for forming false twists.

12. The apparatus as defined in claim ll, wherein said 9 10 initial twist providing means includes oppositely driven 3,355,872 12/1967 Gilchrist et a1. 5734 HS XR belt runs, at least one of which is movable for engagement 3,435,603 4/ 1969 Rice 5734 HS of yarns between said runs. FOREIGN PATENTS References Cited 5 988,421 4/1965 Great Britain 5734 HS Great Blltalll A 2 5 11/ 1941 Peck XR ROBERT R. MACKEY, Primary Examiner 3,091,908 6/1963 Carruthers 5734 HS 3,192,697 7/1965 Carruthers 57-34 HS US. Cl. X.R. 3,237,391 3/1966 Carruthers 57-34 HS XR 10 66-125 A 3,321,904 5/1967 Horvath et a1. 5734 HS XR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,620,000 Dated November 16, 1971 Inventor(s) William K. Wyatt- It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2 line 55 change "snaps" to --snags--.

Column 4 line 7 change "19" to -l8--.

Column 6 line 30 (twice) "5 should be --G Column 6 line 43 "meter" should be --motor-;

Signed and sealed this 9th day of May 1972.

{SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLE1CHER, JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

